In 2007, research indicated that physical activity—not necessarily body size—was most important when considering health. But new research from the American Heart Association produced contradictory results. In the recent study of middle-aged men, overweight and obese participants—or those with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 25—were up to 95 percent more likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared to individuals of normal weight (BMIs of 18–25). To determine your own BMI, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, and then multiply that number by 703, or use the National Institutes of Health’s online calculator at nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.
